What does pet insurance cover?
Pet insurance is designed to help cover vet costs if your pet gets ill, is injured or has an accident. If you don’t have pet insurance, it’s likely that you’ll have to foot any vet bills yourself.
According to the latest figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the average pet insurance claim topped £750 in 2016, so you could find yourself seriously out of pocket.
Pet insurance policies vary and can include the following types of cover:
• Dental treatment
• A compensation payment if your pet passes away
• A payment to cover the costs of advertising and offering a reward if your pet goes missing
• Boarding fees if you become ill for more than a few days and are unable to care for your pet
• Third party liability cover, should your dog injure someone or cause an accident.
With most types of pet insurance, the following is typically not included:
• Treating pre-existing conditions – injuries and illnesses your pet was already suffering from when you took out the policy
• Routine medical treatment, such as check-ups, neutering, spaying and vaccinations.
• Cosmetic treatments, or any other medical treatment not recommended by a vet
• Any condition that could’ve been prevented had routine vaccinations been carried out
• The costs of treatment if you take your pet abroad and it needs to see a vet.
What type of pet insurance is right for me?
he right pet insurance for you depends on several factors, including the age of your pet, its susceptibility to illness and how much you’re willing to pay.
There are four main types of insurance to choose from:
Accident only. Will cover your pet in the event of an accident, but won’t cover long-term illness. There may also be limits on the amount of time and money allowed for treatment.
Time Limited. Covers illnesses as well as accidents, but for a limited amount of time only. These policies may also come with a maximum pay-out.
Maximum Benefit. Covers illnesses and accidents up to a maximum amount per condition, but there’s no time limit on how long you can claim for. This can be useful if your pet experiences a chronic or persistent illness.
Lifetime. This is the most complete type of pet insurance available. It covers accidents, injuries or illnesses for the lifetime of your pet, subject to limits as advised in the policy. These policies can include extras, such as dental cover and expenses for burial.
For all types of pet insurance policy, you’ll have to pay an excess with each claim you make.
source:www.comparethemarket.com